Greenwood faced a tough enough situation Friday. The Woodmen started a sophomore quarterback who was making his first varsity start while also playing without their most productive running back thus far this season.
Throw in an opponent in Class 5A No. 6 Decatur Central that features explosive playmakers all over the field, and it made the task even more difficult.
The Woodmen hung in early, staying within a touchdown into the second period, but then the Hawks struck, scoring 31 points in the game’s next 13 minutes. That gave host Decatur Central a 38-0 lead and paved the way for a 44-7 Hawks victory at Devere Fair Stadium.
Greenwood (2-5, 1-4 Mid-State) was playing without starting running back/defensive back Gunner Ruppert for a second straight game, but Woodmen coach Justin Boser said Ruppert is slated to return for Week 8’s regular-season home finale against Franklin.
He added that Jarboe, who played respectably considering the circumstances (7 of 16 for 124 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions) will also start at quarterback next week against the Grizzly Cubs.
“I think Parker Jarboe started five junior varsity games, and I don’t think he started a game in middle school,” Boser said. “He did the best he could. He threw two interceptions, but one was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and the next one was a little bit my fault. I gave him too much information on the way out (before the play), and he just missed that throw, but he did a good job of putting the ball in good places when he did throw it. We just didn’t have all the tools we needed to move it into the end zone.”
The Woodmen moved the ball into the red zone on each of their first two possessions, but each drive stalled. The first one ended with a missed 37-yard field goal attempt, and the second ended in a turnover on downs at the Decatur Central 20-yard line on an incomplete pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage.
Decatur Central, meanwhile, quickly showed how its offense entered play averaging 44 points per conference game. Hawks quarterback Bo Polston connected with Kasmir Hicks, who was wide open for a 53-yard touchdown pass on the game’s first play from scrimmage.
While the Greenwood defense forced turnovers on each of the Hawks’ next two possessions — an Ethan Reed fumble recovery on the first one, and a Dominik Williams interception on the second — Decatur Central (4-2, 4-1) then scored on each of its next five possessions to put the game out of reach.
Polston completed 11 of 15 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns, all to Hicks, who finished with six catches for 153 yards. All but one completion came in the first half.
“They’ve done a good job of mixing up where they put some of their athletes,” Boser said of Decatur Central. “They probably have more athletes than anybody in the Mid-State. I thought we were able to stop the run consistently, but if they hit a seam, they’re going to go a lot longer than some people.”
Greenwood’s lone touchdown came on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that spanned the late third and early fourth quarters. It ended when Jarboe found Jeremiah Carter in the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown catch.
Jarboe also opened the game strong, finding Davion Jones wide open for a 56-yard catch on the Woodmen’s first offensive play from scrimmage .
“Without your starting running back and quarterback, it’s going to be tough every week in this conference,” Boser said. “To get one piece back (Ruppert next week) and to get Parker Jarboe to throw his first touchdown pass and have another week of confidence … hopefully he can make some of those plays next week.”
